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Maple Leafs’ hopefuls will be chasing gold at the world juniors — for the U.S., Sweden and Finland

Just like any young hockey player in Canada, Nick Robertson grew up dreaming of playing in the world junior hockey championship. Except Robertson is American.

Such is the pull of the world juniors that it resonates across borders these days, with players yearning for the limelight of the championship and the chance to play for their countries.

“That’s one of the bigger events I’ve watched as a kid and to be able to have a chance to represent my country, that’s exciting,” says Robertson, a five-foot-nine winger for the Peterborough Petes whose minor-hockey days included stops in California, Michigan and Toronto.

Robertson is one of three Maple Leafs prospects invited by their national teams for the tournament. Defenceman Rasmus Sandin, a first-round pick in 2018, has been loaned from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to Sweden, where he’ll have a leadership role on the Tre Kronor blue line. Defenceman Mikko Kokkonen, a third-round pick in 2019, is expected to represent Finland.

“To go represent your country, you only get so many opportunities to do that,” says Scott Pellerin, the Leafs’ director of player development. “I think this is a valuable experience.”

While Leafs fans might be quite familiar with Sandin, who started the season in the NHL and remains one of the team’s top prospects, Robertson has proven to be an intriguing find by GM Kyle Dubas the Toronto scouting staff.

Robertson, a second-round pick in June, has 23 goals and 12 assists in 22 games with Peterborough this season.

“He has probably one of the best releases and shots that we’ve had in our camp,” Pellerin says. “Honestly, he’s a threat to score from outside, the tops of the circles. But I think his compete level and his willingness to get after pucks and get in on the forecheck is something that we were really excited to see as his game develops.”

Robertson, 18, seems to approach life with the same robust energy he exerts in games. When the Leafs send a development coach to visit him, the advice tends to be “be yourself,” Robertson says. That means bringing tenacity on the ice.

“I stick to my work ethic, that’s something I take pride in,” he says. “And using my skill as much as possible. When the skill’s not really showing, I definitely use my work ethic.”

The Leafs’ development team has a 2-in-1 package in Peterborough, with Robertson skating on a line with Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, a Toronto pick from the 2018 draft. They have some decent chemistry together: Der-Arguchintsev is the Petes’ leading scorer, with his team-leading assists setting up Robertson’s team-leading goals.

“We’ve been on the same team a couple years,” Robertson says. “And to be together with Toronto, it couldn’t work out better.”

Robertson was sidelined for a month with a broken finger and the way he rehabbed impressed Pellerin. The Leafs and the Petes put together a workout regime and timetable for him.

“He was really dedicated to his return-to-play program,” Pellerin says. “He’s a real student of the game, a tremendously gifted competitor. He’s just one of those guys who is really going to do well in my mind.

“He’s the right fit for (the world junior) tournament. What I like about his game is he can play in any kind of spot. He can play in your top six but he could also play your bottom six. He’s that versatile.”

A lot of eyes will be on the 19-year-old Sandin, who played for Sweden last year as well.

“Here’s a great opportunity for him to just continue to develop, learn to how to win, how to play in those pressure situations,” says Pellerin, adding praise for Sandin’s progress. “It’s just a continued poise with the puck (and his) decision-making. It’s his second (pro) season and he’s trying to find what works.

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“He has to be consistent inside his game. His strength is there. You can see he’s strong on the puck, he defends well. He’s on track. He just has to continue to put in the hours, put in the time and be a good pro right now. At a young age, he’s really done a good job.”

Kokkonen, 18, is the big mystery for Leafs fans. He has been playing in Finland’s top league for two seasons.

“He’s playing really well,” Pellerin says. “We’re really happy with his progress. He’s really coachable. He’s really dialed right now into his game and really looking forward to having an impact in the tournament.”

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